Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) causes a wide spectrum of disease in humans, from mild diarrhoea to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). The verocytotoxin (vtx) and intimin (eae) genes of VTEC strains, other than those of serogroup O157, were subtyped to identify common properties that may be associated with increased pathogenicity. Strains were isolated from patients with HUS, those with diarrhoea or from asymptomatic individuals. Strains of VTEC that carried vtx2 gene subtypes vtx2 and vtx2c were most commonly associated with HUS, whereas strains from patients with less severe disease and from the healthy control group were more likely to have vtx1c or vtx2d genes. The eae gene was detected more frequently in strains isolated from HUS patients than in those associated with cases of diarrhoea; β-intimin was the most common intimin subtype in strains isolated from both groups of patients. None of the strains from the healthy control group carried the eae gene.

38.Subcommittee of the PHLS Advisory Committee on Gastrointestinal Infections (2000). Guidelines for the control of infection with Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). Commun Dis Public Health3, 14–23.

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